Are you a beauty guru who has always dreamt of taking that leap and making it your profession? Do you love doing makeup and hair, but still wish you had that extra training from an accredited cosmetology school? Cosmetology school might seem like the obvious choice for anyone who is a hair and makeup enthusiast; however, it comes at a price. While cosmetology school is a great way to learn new skills when it comes to styling hair, doing makeup, nails, and anything else beauty related, many people feel held back due to the cost.
How much does cosmetology school cost? Cosmetology programs could cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. However, if going to cosmetology school is a dream of yours, there are ways to make the cost of beauty school affordable.
Financial Aid for Beauty School
You can go to cosmetology school without putting yourself in debt. Many cosmetology schools can offer different types of financial aid to students who demonstrate financial hardship. This process begins with filling out a financial aid form called FAFSA―a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You can learn more about financial aid programs offered on the FAFSA website.
Beauty School Scholarships
There are tons of schools out there who award beauty school scholarships to deserving students. The best thing to do if you really want to afford beauty school? Do your research and find as many scholarships to apply to as possible, this way, you increase your chances of receiving a scholarship.
Beauty School Grants
You can also receive federal grants from the government to help pay for beauty school. You can apply for a grant through a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). There are four types of grants distributed by the federal government. Some grants distribute funds based on needs, others just help students get started.
Payment Plans
If all else fails, talk to your cosmetology school about flexible payment options. Schools don’t like turning away passionate students who truly want to be there. They want to help you in any way that they can. If this means putting you on a payment plan, they’ll probably be willing to help out. Often times, schools will work one-on-one with you to discuss a manageable payment plan so that you can focus on your education.
Additional Side Hustles
If you’re still needing a little extra money while you’re in cosmetology school and financial aid options are failing you, look into getting some side hustles. If you’re passionate about hair and makeup, there is a lot you could do with your time. Many people trust cosmetology students/beauty school students to do hair, makeup, and more since these students are receiving professional training from an accredited cosmetology school.
While you are attending beauty school, consider the following side hustles:
- Part-Time Work at Makeup/Personal Care Store. You could work at a makeup/beauty store part-time while attending cosmetology school to help you pay the way.
- Get Social. Start a YouTube channel or Instagram specifically for all of your beauty content. The more followers you get, the greater likelihood that you could be doing brand partnerships and get paid for posting! Plus, if you do hair and makeup for special occasions, you could promote that on your social pages in an effort to gain more clients.
- Making Hair Accessories Available for Purchase on Etsy. While you may not be able to cut and style hair on the side, you can definitely utilize the Etsy playground. With the latest trends in wedding and prom fashion, women are always looking for unique headbands, flower crowns, and decorative hairpins. Start small and work your way up to bigger projects. You’ll find with practice, you’ll be able to ask more for your accessories too!
At the end of the day, if cosmetology school is your dream, you have to go for it. Look at it this way: if you’re choosing cosmetology school over a traditional college, you’re already saving more money by choosing not to get an undergraduate degree. Most four-year universities cost upwards of $20,000 a year. For less than that, you could put yourself through beauty school.
Franklin Academy has financial tuition planning experts equipped with numerous tools to help prospective students find a financial plan to cover this important investment in themselves, making us an affordable cosmetology school. We also have a professionalism scholarship program that can reduce tuition costs by more than 10%. Beyond that, we have a professional reputation and care about giving our students the quality education that they deserve. You can visit our site to learn more about our financial assistance options.
With so many options as far as career paths go and financial planning experts who are there to help, the time to start your cosmetology career with Franklin Academy is now. Contact us today to see how we can make your cosmetology school dreams a reality.
